ILLEGAL ALIEN INDICTED FOR FEDERAL FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

BEAUMONT, Texas – A 40-year-old Honduran man has been indicted for federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Carlos Andres Suazo-Izaguirre was indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 17, 2011 and charged with illegally reentering the United States, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being an alien in possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted, Suazo-Izaguirre faces up to 20 years in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States and up to 10 years for each of the firearms violations.

The indictment alleges that on Dec. 13, 2010, a Dayton, Texas homeowner discovered Suazo-Izaguirre in the garage of her home with a firearm he had stolen from the garage. The homeowner held the defendant at gun point until law enforcement authorities arrived. After the defendant was arrested, it was discovered that he was a native of Honduras and had been previously deported five times. Further investigation revealed Suazo-Izaguirre was a convicted felon having been found guilty of possession of a controlled substance in 1992 in Montgomery County, Texas; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in 1997 in Montgomery County; forgery in 1998 in Harris County, Texas; possession of a controlled substance in 2002 in Montgomery County; and reentry of a deported alien in 2004 and in 2007 in the Southern District of Texas. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon or an illegal alien to possess or own firearms or ammunition.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, ammunition and body armor, and improving the safety of residents in the Eastern District of Texas. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement and the ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonetta Stancu.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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